Testing device for dry batteries



Sept. 30 1924. 1,509,959

D. W. LANDES TESTING DEVICE FOR DRY BATTERIES Filed June 16, 192i 2Sheets-Sheet l 9 INVE/VTUR W ban les,

WITNESSES ATTORNEYS Se t. 30, 1924. 1,509,959

D.'W. LANDES TESTING DEVICE FOR DRY BATTERIES Filed June 16, 1921 2Sheets-Sheet. 2

WITNESSES mmvron W es,

4 TTORNEYS Patented Sept. 30, 1924.

UNITED STATES DAVID WILLIAM LANDES, OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

TESTING DEVICE FOR DIR-Y BATTERIES.

Application filed June 16, 1921. Serial No. 477,962.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DAVID WIILIAM LANDES, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Portland, in the county of Multnomah and Stateof Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in TestingDevices for Dry Batteries, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a testing device for dry batteries.

The object of the invention is to provide a device of he above characterby which dry batteries of the type employed in connection withflashlights may be tested to determine whether or not the battery issufficiently charged.

It is also an object of the invention that dry batteries of difi'erentcapacities may be tested.

It is a further object of the invention that the device be portable andinexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and objects relating to details of construction,combination and arrangement of parts will hereinafter appear in thedetailed descri tion to follow.

The invention is ilustrated by way of example in the accompanyingdrawings, in'

which:

Figure 1 is a perspective of the device.

Figures 2 and 3 are transverse sections taken substantially on the lines22 and 3-3, respectively, of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the connector plate for the testlights.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the slidable element of the testingdevice.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the lower strip or section and also themovable element associated therewith.

Figure 7 is a bottom plan view of the top strip or section with aportion broken away to more clearly illustrate the invention.

Referring to the drawings more particularly, a frame or base isprovidedcomprising the top strip A and the bottom strip B, which are of wood andpreferably of the shape shown. Each strip is provided with a centrallongitudinal slot 10, said slots registering with each other, when thetwo strips are fitted together, as shown, in Figure 1. Each side wall ofthe slots is formed within an ofi'set 11, said ofi'sets forming a pairof guideways adapted to slidingly accommodate the tongues 13 of theblock 14.

The bottom surface of the stri B is preferably covered with card-boardsheetmg 12. The bottom surface of the stri A is offset at its one endand in said 0 set there is fitted a plate 15-; also in the same end ofthe strip A there isgprovided a plurality of openings, each beingadapted to accommodate an electric lamp socket 16, Figure 3, saidsockets being of the screw type as shown and adapted for receiving thelug portion of an electric lamp 17. The amps 17 are of the type employedfor flashlights and of different voltage. The sockets 16 are four innumber, in the present instance, two being arranged adjacent each sideof the strip A and each of said sockets extending into an opening '18formed in the plate 15, so that the ,may be electrically connected withthe p ate 15.

A contact point 19 is extended from the inner end of the plate 15, saidpoint having a suitable electrical connection with the plate 15, andfrom the point 19 there extends "a tang 20 which is also connected withthe contact post 21, said post being positioned as shown and formed withan inwardly'extending end portion 22.

Upon one side of the 'slot 10 of the strip B, there is secured a pair ofelectric cur rent conductor strips 23 and 24 and upon,

the other side a pair of similar strips 25 and 26. The conductor stripsare equal in number to the lamps 17 and the forward end of each strip isadapted to be engaged. by the contact terminal 27 of the associatedla'mp 17. The lamp with which the strip 23 connects is of greatervoltage than the lamp with which the strip 24 connects, and likewise thelamp with which the strip v25 connects is of greater voltage than thelamp with which the strip 26 connects. The plate 15 and strips 23 to 26are insulated from each other by cardboard sheeting or the like asshown.

Across the forward end of the block 14 there is suitably secured a strip28 which is of spring metal and has a portion 29 extending along eachtongue 13 of the block, said portion being formed in the shape of a bowas shown which is adapted to frictionally engage the inner walls of theguideways in which the tongues 13 of the block slide. It will also beobserved that the conductor strips 23 to 26 inclusive, each have theirend disposed along the slot 10, slightly cut away as at 30 so that theshoes 29 of the block 14 may contact therewith. With the strip 28 thereis connected the one end of an L-shaped clip 31, the other end of saidclip being connected with the post 32, said post being carried by theblock 14, as shown, and formed at its upper end with a forwardly projecting portion 33, said projection 33 being in alignment with theprojection 22 formed on the post 21.

As well known dry batteries employed for flashlights are of differentsizes and the greater the size the greater voltage lamp requiredtherefor. Also the batteries increase proportionally in length withtheir size or capacity. In the present instance,-it is intended that thelamp 17 which is associated with the strip 25 is of sufficient voltageto test a dry battery of a relatively high capacity, while the lightsassociated with the remalning strips 23, 24: and 26 are adapted fortesting dry batteries of lower capacity.

When it is desired to test a battery, the operation is as follows Thebattery is laid in the slot 10 of the member A with its positiveterminal connecting with the contact point 19, the block I nection andthus bring 14: is then moved forwardly until projection 33 of the post32 engages with the negative electrode or the zinc shell which forms thebody of the battery. The length of the battery will determine with whichof the conductor strips 23 to 26 inclusive, the post 32 will beelectrically connected. If the battery is of high capacity the lengththereof will be sufficient so that the post 32 will be electricallyconnected with the conductor strip 25. If the battery is suflicientlycharged the current will flow through the contact 19, plate 15 andilluminate the light 1'7 which is associated with the strip 25 and thustest the battery. In case the battery tested is of smaller capacity itwill likewise be shorter in length and a different voltage lamp 17 willbe illuminated.

Should it not be desired to drop the bat tery into the slot 10 of themember A, the same may be held so that one electrode will contact withthe projection 22 of the post 21, while its other electrode will contactwith the projection 33 of the post 32. The block 14 will of course bemoved to effect this conthe contact post 32 into electrical connectionwith the proper light 17.

While I have shown and described the preferred form, combination andarrangement of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I am awareof the fact that minor changes may be made by those skilled in the artwithout departing from the spirit thereof as indicated by the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. A testing device of the character de scribed, comprising a base, ablock movable thereon, a contact carried by the base and in alignmentwith said block, a plurality of electric lamps, each having its oneterminal connected to said contact, a plurality of conductors, one foreach lamp, and connected to the remaining terminal thereof, and eachconductor having its one end arranged in close relation to said block, apair of how springs carried by said block and adapted to engage saidconductors, a contact carried by the block, and an electrical connectionbetween said contact and bow sprin s.

2. A testing device of the character escribed, comprising incombination, a base consisting in a pair of strips made of insulatingmateria each stri being provided with an elongated longitudinallyextending slot, said slots being adapted to register with one stripplaced one upon the other, means for securing the said strips together,a block slidable within the slot formed by said strips, a contact pointat one end of said slot, a plurality of electric lamps car ried by thebase, each having one terminal connected to said contact, a conductorstrip extending from the remaining terminal of each light and having itsone end disposed in close relation to a side of said slot, a contactpoint carried by the block, and means carried by said block electricallyconnected with said contact adapted to be brought to engage either ofsaid conductor strips.

3. A testing device of the character described comprising incombination, a base having a slot extending lon itudinally thereof, aplurality of electric Iamps carried by said base, a contact point ormember in one end of said slot and connected to a terminal of each ofsaid electric lamps, a block slidable in said slot, a conductor stripcarried upon the block and having resilient side portions adapted tofrictionally engage the side walls of the slot, a contact point ormember carried by the block and electrically connected to the conductorstrip, conductor wires extending from each remaining terminal of thelamps and each strip having its free end disposed adjacent the slot andadapted to be engaged by the side portions of said conductor stripcarried by the block, for the purpose described.

4. A testing device of the character described, comprising incombination, a base having a slot extending longitudinally thereof, aplurality of electric lamps supported by said base, a contact post atone end of said slot and electrically connected to a terminal of each ofsaid electric lamps, a block slidable in said slot, a spring bowpositioned upon each side of said block and adapted to engage the sidewalls of said slot, a contact post carried by the block and electricallyconnected to each of said spring bows. a conductor element extendingfrom the remaining terminal of each electric lamp and having its freeend disposed for engagement with one of said bow springs of the slidableblock, and said conductor elements having their free ends arranged inspaced relation, for the purpose described.

5. A testing device of the character described, comprising a base, amember movable longitudinally of the base, a contact point at one end ofthe base, a plurality of electric lamps each having one terminalconnected to said contact point, a conductor extending from theremaining terminal of each lamp and the other ends thereof arranged in saced relation and longitudinally of the ase and adapted to be engaged bysaid movable member, a contact point carried by the movable member, andadapted to be electrically connected with each of said conductorelements when said conductor elements are engaged by said movable memberfor the purpose described.

6. A test unit including a base, a channel guideway, a contact memberupstanding between the side walls of said guideway and at one endthereof, a contact upon said base and exposed within said guideway, anindicating means connected with said member and said contact, and acontacting member slidably supported within said guideway adapted tocooperate with said contact whereby a battery may be accommodatedbetween the members closing a circuit therethrough and through saidindicator.

DAVID WILLIAM LANDES.

